No.  lY. 

THE     MINOR     DRAMA 


THE  LOAN  OF  A  LOVER 


IN      ONE      ACT 


BY    J.    R.    PLANCHE 


WITH  THE   STAGE  BUSINES,    CAST  OF  CHABr 

ACTBRS,  COSTUMES,  RELATIVE  POSITIONS 

ETC. 


NEW-YORK  : 
WILLIAM  TAYLOR  &  CO.,  No.  18  ANN-STREET 


PRICE    12  1-2    CENTS. 


MODERN     STANDARD     DRAMA. 

Frict  12  1-2   Cents  each.— Bound   Volwmts,  $1.00. 


Vol.  r. 

1.  Ion 

2.  t'aiio. 

3.  The  Ladj  of  Lyons. 

4.  Richelieu. 

5.  The  Wife. 

6.  The  Honey  Moon. 

7.  The  School  for  Scan- 
dal. 

8.  iloney. 

With  a  Portrait  and 
lienurir  of  Mrs.  A.  C. 
MO  WATT. 


YOi.  n. 
The  Stranger. 
Grandfather 


Whitft- 


11.  Richard  m. 

12.  Love's  Sacrifice. 

13.  The  Gamester. 

14.  A  Cure  for  the  Heart- 
ache. 

16.  The  Hunchback. 

16.  Don  C»8ar  DeBaum. 
Wiik    a    Portrait  and 

Memoir   of    Mr.    CHAS. 
KEAN. 

TOL  m. 

17.  The  Poor  G«ntlein*n. 

18.  Hamlet. 

19.  Ch&rle*  TL 

20.  Venioe  PrcMrrtd. 

21.  PlMirro. 

23.  The  Lore-ClMMW. 
SS.  Othelie. 

24.  Lend  me  Tire  SblUinft 

Wiik  a  Portrait  and 
Metnoir  of  Mr.  W.  E. 
BURTON. 


25.  VirglniuB. 

26.  The  King  of  the  Com- 
mons. 

27.  London  Assurance. 

28.  The  Rent-Day. 

29.  Two     Gentlemen     of 
Verona. 

80.  The  Jealous  Wife. 
SI.  The  KiTals. 
32.  Perfection. 

WUK  a  Portrait  and 
Memoir  of  Mr.  J.  H. 
HACKETT. 


V<11.     V. 

33.  A   Ne\r  Way     to  Pay 
Old  Debts. 

34.  Look  Before  You  Leap. 

35.  King  John. 

36.  The  Nervous  Man. 

37.  Damon  and  Pythias. 

38.  The  •  Clandestine  Mar- 
riage. 

39.  William  Tell. 

40.  The    Day     after     the 
Wedding. 

With  a  Portrait  and 
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the  Elder. 

VOL.    VI 

41.  Speed  the  Plough. 

42.  Romeo  and  Juliet. 

43.  Feudal  Times. 

44.  Charles  the  Twelfth. 
46.  The  Bridal. 

46.  The  Folhes   of  Night. 

47.  The  Iron  Chest. 

48.  Faint     Heart      Never 
Won  Fair  Lady. 

WUh  a  Portrait  and 
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About 


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19.  Road  to  Ruin, 

60.  Macbeth. 

61.  Temper. 
52.  Kradne. 
U.  Bw^ram. 
ii.  The  Duenna. 
M.  Much       Ado 

Nothing. 
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DAN. 


VOL  vm. 

67.  The  Apostate. 

68.  Tivelfth  Night 

69.  BmtuB. 

60.  Simpson  A  Co. 

61.  Merchant   of    Venice, 
63.  Old  HeadB  and  Young 

Hearta. 

63.  MountalBMrt. 

64.  Thrw     Week!     After 
Marriage. 

With  a  PortraU  and 
Memoir  of  Mr.  OBO.  H. 
BARRETT. 


VOL  n. 

65.  Love. 

66.  As  You  like  it. 

67.  I'he  Elder  Brother. 

68.  Werner. 

69.  Gisippus. 

70.  Town  and  Country. 

71.  King  Lear. 

72.  Blue  Devils. 

WUh  a  J'orfrait  and 
Memoir  of  Mrs.  SUA  W 

VOL      X 

73  Henry  VlIT 

74  Married  and   Single 

75  Henry  TV 

76  Paul  Pry 

77  Guy  Mannering 

78  Sweethearts  &  Wives 

79  The  Seriou.s  Family 

80  She  Stoops  to  Conquer 
With    a    Portrait    and 

Memoir  of    Miss   CHAR- 
LOTTE CUSHMAN. 
VOL   n 

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84  The  Catflpaw 

85  The  Passing  Qoud 

86  The  Drunkard 

87  Rod  Roy 

88  George  Barnwell 
With   a    Portrait    and 

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SEriON. 

TOL  xn 

89  Ingomar 

90  Sketche."*  in  India 

91  The  Two  Frienda 

92  Jane  Shore 

93  The  Corsican  Brothers 

94  Mind    your    own  Busi- 
ness. 

95  Writing  on  the  Wall 

96  Heir  at  Law 

With  a  Portrait  and 
Memoir  of  THOMAS  S. 
HAMBLIN. 

TOL  xm 

97  The  Soldier'*  Daughter 

98  DouglM 

99  Marco  Spada 

100  Nature's  Nobleman 

101  Sardanapolo* 

102  Civilisation 

103  The  Robbers 

104  Katharine  &  Petrudo 
With   a    Portrait    and 

Memfdr  of  EDWIN  FOR- 
REST. 


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THE     MINOR     DRAMA 

No.  IV. 


THE    LOAI    OE    A    LOYER. 

21  l)attlret)UU 


IN     ONE    ACT, 


BY     J.     R.    PLANCHE 


WITH    THE    STAGE   BUSINESS,    CAST  OF  CHARACTERS, 
COSTUMES,  RELATIVE  POSITIONS,  ETC. 


NEW-YORK: 
WILLIAM    TAYLOR    <fe    0  0, 


No.  18  ANN-STREET. 


EDITORIAL     INTRODUCTION. 

The  "  Loan  of  a  Lover"  is  one  of  those  Vaudevilles  which, 
on  account  of  its  intrinsic  merit,  must  necessarily  retain  posses- 
sion of  the  stage  for  a  very  long  period.  It  is  one  of  Mr.  Plan- 
che's  best  efforts.  There  is  a  quiet  repose  about  the  pece, 
which  is  truly  charming;  yet,  when  well  played,  it  is  the  occa- 
sion of  abundant  merriment.  The  plot  is  artistically  laid,  though 
60  skilfully  is  it  done,  and  so  easily  and  necessarily  does  it  deve- 
lope  itself,  that  it  almost  appears  as  if  there  were  no  plot  at  all. 
But  the  great  beauty  of  the  piece  is  in  the  perfect  truth,  the 
simplicity  of  the  hero  and  heroine.  They  are  unmistakable  crea- 
tions of  Nature.  We  cannot  fail  to  recognize  that  they  are  living 
fellow  beings. 

This  piece  was  originally  produced  at  the  Olympic  Theatre, 
London,  Mr.  Keeley  enacting  the  part  of  Peter  SjjyJc,  and  Ma- 
dame Vestris  that  of  Gertrude.  However  well  the  lady  may 
have  performed  her  part,  (and  she  was  inimitable  in  any  cha- 
racter where  a  touch  of  archness  became  necessary),  it  is  cer- 
tain that  Mr.  Keeley  became  identified  with  the  piece  ;  and  he 
has  ever  since  made  it  a  prominent  selection  in  his  starring  en- 
gagements. To  those  who  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr 
Keeley  as  Peter  Sjpyk,  the  remembrance  of  the  quiet,  quaint 
simplicity,  with  which  he  played  the  character,  whilst  yet  he 
carefully  preserved  it  from  that  of  a  mere  simpleton,  will  not 
esksily  pass  away, 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS. 

London  Olympic,  Park. 

Captain  Amersfort Mr.  J.  Vining.  Mr.  Wheatley. 

Peter  Spyk    "    Kccley,  "    Keeley. 

Sun/zel "    William  Vining.  "    Fisher. 

Delve    "    Wyman.  "    Povey. 

Gertrude    ftladame  Vestris.  Mrs.  Keeley. 

Ernestine  Rosendaal Miss  Fitzwalter.  Miss  Cushman. 


COSTUMES. 

CAPTAIN  AMERSFORT.— Officer's  uniform. 

PETHR  SPYK.— Nankeen  jacket,  flowered  vest,  full  trunks,    blue 

stockings,  and  Dutch  hat. 
SWYZEL. — Buff  coat  and  trunks,   figured  vest,  blue  dockings,  and 

hat. 
DELVE  — Brown  jacket  and  trunks,  striped  stockings,  and  russet  hat. 
GERTRUDE. — Neat  peasant's  dress,  with  broad  hat. — Second  dress  : 

Wedding  dress  of  white  muslin,  trimmed  with  flowers. 
ERNESTINE. — Silk  spencer,  white  muslin  dress,  scarf,  and  Swiss 

straw  hat. 


EXITS  AND  ENTRANCES. 
R.  means  Right;    L.  Left:    R.  D.  Eight  Door;    L.  D.  Left  Door; 
S.  E.  Second  Entrance;  U.  E.  Upper  Entrance;  M.  D.  Middle  Door 

RELATIVE  POSITIONS. 
R.,  means  Right;   L.,  Left;    C,  Centre  ;    R.  C,  Right  of  Centre: 
L.  C,  Left  of  Centre. 

rf.B.  Passages  marked  with  Inverted  Commas,  are  usually  otmttea  in  the 
representation. 


THE   LOAN  OF  A  LOVER. 


ACT     I. 

Scene  I. —  Gardens  of  a  Villa  on  the  Canal  near  Utrecht, 
The  tower  of  the  Cathedral  is  seen  in  the  distance.  In 
one  corner  of  the  Garden,  overlooldng  the  Canal,  is  a 
Summer  House,  r.,  in  the  Dutch  taste. 

E?iier  SwYZEL  and  Delve,  r. 

Sivy.  Do  as  you're  bid,  and  no  reflections.  Don't  you 
know  the  mistress  is  the  master  1 

Del.  Well,  but  now  really,  Mynheer  Swyzel — to  put 
out  the  orange-trees  before  the  white  frosts  are  over — is 
that  common  sense  *? 

Swij.  What  have  you  to  do  with  common  sense  ?  No- 
thing at  all — or  you  would  not  pretend  to  have  more  than 
your  mistress.  It  is  IMamzelle  Ernestine's  pleasure  to 
turn  the  orangery  into  a  ball-room,  and  turned  it  must  be. 

Del.  But  the  trees  will  die. 

Swij.  Let  'em  die,  then — that's  their  business — yours  is 
to  clear  the  place  out,  according  to  order.  About  it,  with- 
out more  words  !  If  she  told  me  to  fling  all  the  Schiedam 
in  the  cellar  into  the  canal,  I  should  do  so,  without  hesi- 
tation. 

Del.  You'd  fling  yourself  after  it,  I'm  sure. 

Swij.  Not  when  it  was  mixed  with  water,  you  rogue ! 
or  while  the  Baron  has  money  enough  to  buy  more.  Come 
— to  work  !  to  work  !  or  you'll  not  get  the  room  ready  by 
midnight. 

Del.  Oh,  my  poor  )range  trees — they'll  die,  every  one 
of  tliem !  "  [Exit,  r. 

Swy.  Silly  fellow,  to  trouble  his  head  about  what  does 
not  concern  him.     If  his  employers  take  no  care  for  their 


6  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER.  [Act  1 

own  interests,  why  should  he  fidget  about  them  ?  lie 
hasn't  the  shgbtest  notion  of  service  !  Ah  !  here's  Peter 
.Spyk. 

Enter  Peter,  l. 

Well,  Peter. 

Pet.  Good  morning,  Master  Steward. 

Su-y.  So,  you've  been  to  Amsterdam,  to  buy  cattle,  I 
hear  I 

Pet.  Ay,  and  fine  beasts  they  are,  too.  Master  Steward. 
But,  talking  of  beasts,  how  do  you  find  yourself  to-day  ? 
you  were  rather  poorly  when  1  left. 

Swjf.  Oh  !  Tm  better,  thank  you  ;  but  I'm  not  so  young 
as  I  was  thirty  years  ago — I  find  that,  Peter.  Ah  !  I  envy 
you,  you  rcjgue  !  Three-and-twenty — stout-timbered — 
light-hearted — and  rich,  T  may  say  ;  for  old  Jan  Spyk, 
yon.r  father,  left  you  a  pretty  round  sum,  I  take  it  ] 

Pet.  Why,  it  might  have  been  less,  and  yet  worth  hav- 
ing. Master  Steward. 

iS' //•?/.  Wei!,  and  why  don't  you  get  a  wife,  now  1  All 
the  girls  in  the  neighbourhood  are  pulling  caps  for  you. 

Pet.  Why,  I  don't  know  ;  they  do  look  at  me,  somehow, 
but  I'm  not  smitten  with  anybody  in  particulai'.  However, 
1  don't  wish  to  prevent  them — they  may  fall  in  love  with 
me,  and  then  1  can  choose,  you  know, 

Swij.   Well,  perhaps  that's  the  best  way. 

Pet.  Yes,  I  think  so — as  Gertrude  said  to  me  the  other 
day — you  don't  love  anybody  in  particular,  Peter,  so  you 
can  look  about  you. 

Swy.  Gertrude — what,  our  Gertrude  1  The  simpleton 
that  has  the  run  of  the  house  and  gardens  by  permission 
of  tlie  Baron,  because  she's  the  orphan  daughter  of  his  old 
bailiff,  and  who  is  always  so  mighty  busy,  doing  nothing 
at  all,  by  way  of  earning  the  living  allowed  her  !  Is  she 
your  counsellor  1 

Pf't.  Oh,  she  and  I  gossip  now  and  then,  when  we  meet. 
She's  a  sort  of  relation  of  mine — my  brother-in-law's  aunt 
stood  godmother  to  her. 

»S/^;//.   Well,  that  is  a  sort  of  relation,  certainly. 

P(t.  And  then,  you  see,  simpleton  as  she  is,  she  has  now 
and  then  an  idea,  and  that's  the  only  thing  T  want — I  ne- 
ver have  an  idea.     It's  very  odd,  but  I  never  have  what 


Scene  I  |  THE   LOAN   OF   A   LOVER.  7 

you  can  really  call  an  idea— of  my  own,  that  is — for  I'm 
quick  enough,  if  a  person  only  just — and  yesterday,  now 
1  saw  her  but  for  two  or  three  minutes,  and  I'll  be 
hanged  if  she  didn't  give  me  a  capital  idea  !  and  that's 
what  has  brought  me  here  this  morning.  You've  a  Cap- 
tain Amersfort  staying  here,  haven't  you  ] 

Sivi/.  Oh,  yes  ;  one  of  our  young  lady's  score  of  lovers 
— and  the  best  of  'em,  too,  to  my  mind  ;  but  she's  too  ca- 
pricious to  make  up  hers.  He's  a  fine  fellow — handsome, 
clever,  gallant — 

Pef.  And  landlord  of  the  fine  farm  of  Appledoorn — so 
Gertrude  says. 

Swi/.  Ah  !  and  you  want  to  be  his  tenant,  no  doubt  1 

Pet.  Why,  Gertrude  thinks — 

Sw7/.'  Well,  she's  right  there — it's  pretty  property  ;  but 
there  are  several  farmers  offering. 

Pet.  So  she  tells  me ;  but  she  says  that  if  you  were  to 
speak  to  the  Captain  in  my  favour — 

Siiy.  Well,  she's  right  there,  too.    If  I  were  to  speak — 

Pef.  And  will  you  ? — will  you,  Master  Steward  ?  I've 
a  keg  at  home  of  the  finest  flavour,  which  I  should  be  too 
happy — 

Swi/.  Pshaw !  pshaw !  you  know,  if  I  do  anything,  it's 
never  with  a  view  to  benefit  myself,  Peter;  [Crosses,  r.] 
BO  send  me  the  keg,  if  it  will  serve  you,  and  we'll  see  what 
can  be  done  about  it. 

Gertmde.  [  Without,  l.]  Mynheer  Swyzel !  Mynli^er 
Swyzel ! 

Sivy.  Here  comes  Gertrude. 

Enter  Gertrude,  running,  l. 

Ger.  Mynheer  Swyzel !   Mynheer  Swyzel ! 

Sivy.  Well,    don't   bawl    so — you   young  baggage. 
[Crosses,  c]   What  do  you  want  1 

Ger.  [Out  of  breath.]  You're  to  go  directly — I've  been 
looking  for  you  everywhere,  to  tell  you — there's  Peter 
Spyk. 

Swy.  To  tell  m.e  that  1 — why,  I  know  that. 

Ger.  No  ;  to  tell  you — to  tell  you — how  d'ye  do,  Peter  1 
are  you  very  well  1  [  Crosses,  c. 

Pet.  Ay,  ay ! 

Stay.  Will  you  tell  mo  what  you  m.ean  to  tell  me  ? 


8  THE   LOAN    OF    A    LOVER.  [Act  I. 

Ger.  Law  !  I'd  almost  forgotten — I'd  run  so  fast.  How 
well  Peter  looks  this  morning — don't  he  1 

Sic?/.  Do  let  Peter  alone!  and  tell  me  who  wants  me — 
and  what  for.     Is  it  the  wine  for  breakfast  ? 

Ger.  Yes,  that's  it — you've  got  the  keys  of  the  cellar, 
and  the  Baron  wants  some  of  the  best  Moselle,  to  give 
Captain  Amersfort. 

Sii-f/.  Good  morning,  then,  Peter.  I'll  take  an  oppor- 
tunity of  speaking  to  the  Captain,  depend  upon  it.  1  must 
go  now  for  the  Baron. 

FRENCH  AiR.— Gertrude. 

Well,  but  make  more  haste  about  it, 
Master  wants  to  ti-eat  his  guest. 

SWTZEL. 

Oh,  I'll  please  ban  !  never  doubt  it ; 
Of  his  wines  I  know  the  best. 
He  shall  own,  that  down  his  throttle. 
Such  has  seldom  found  its  way. 

Gertrude. — [Aside.'] 

Then  you'll  get  him  up  a  bottle 

Of  what  you  dnnkeveiy  day.  [^Exit  Sivyzel,  l. 

Ger.  [Aside.]  An  old  rogue,  I  am  sure  he^  is  ;  and  he  al- 
ways snubs  me  and  scolds  me.  So  does  everybody,  in- 
deed, except  Peter.  Peter  never  snubs  me,  at  any  rate  ; 
out  that's  because  he  hardly  ever  speaks  to  me.  Now  on- 
ly look  at  him  this  moment!  there  he  stands,  puffing  away 
with  his  pipe,  and  turning  up  the  whites  of  his  eyes.  Now, 
what  can  he  be  thinking  about  1 — that  is,  if  he  is  thinking 
— suppose  it's  about — [Aloud,  and  taking  hold  of  his  ar?ji\ 
— Peter ! 

Fet.  Eh  ! — Oh  !  you're  here  still,  are  you  ] 

Ger.  [Aside.\  How  civil !  [Aloud.  \  Yes,  I'm  here  still ; 
and  if  I  had  kept  still,  you'd  never  have  known  it,  seem- 
ingly.    What  are  you  thinking  about  so  deeply  ] 

Pet.  Thinking  about  ?  Why,  I  was  thinking  about 
Mother  Wynk's  tavern,  where  I  breakfasted  this  morning. 

Ger.  What  an  interesting  subject ! 

Pet.  Rather.  The  old  vrow  worried  my  life  out  with — 
"  Why  don't  you  get  married.  Farmer  Spyk  T' — "  Why 
do  you  live  alone,  in  that  old  house,  like  an  owl  in  an  ivy- 
bush  ?" — "  Why  don't  you  take  a  wife  %  you've  got  money 


Scene  I.J  THE    LOAN   OF   A    LOVER.  9 

enough  to  keep  one,  and  you  are  your  own  master ;  you've 
only  to  please  yourself." 

Ger.    VV^ell,  and  haven't  I  told  vou  so  over  and  over 

•     n 

again  j 

Pet.  Well,  so  you  have;  and  I  do  think,  if  I  should  get 
the  Appledoorn  Farm,  I'll  sign  a  lease  and  a  contract  the 
same  day. 

Ger.  But,  if  you  don't  get  the  farm,  what  does  it  signi- 
fy 1 — you  might  marry  all  the  same  for  that.  You've 
enough  without.  You  needn't  wait — that  is,  if  you  like 
anybody  well  enough  to  marry  them. 

Pet.  Ah,  but  then  I  don't  know  that  I  do.  Now,  who 
is  there,  in  your  opinion,  that  would  suit  me  ? 

Ger.  Oh,  I  don't  know.  I  dare  say,  if  1  were  to  choose, 
T  could  name  somebody. 

Pet.  Well,  but  let's  see,  now.  To  begin  with  the  neigh- 
bourhood : — I  know  all  the  girls  here,  and  I  am  sure  I 
can't  say. — [Su(]denJjj.]  What  d'ye  think  of  Mary  Moer- 
dyke,  to  begin  with  ? 

Ger.  Very  bad  to  begin  with,  and  much  better  to  have 
done  with  as  soon  as  possible.  She  is  the  worst  tempered 
girl  in  all  Utretcht,  and  as  tall  as  the  tower  yonder — a 
great,  gawky,  sulky  thing,  just  like  it. 

Pet.  Ah,  well,  I  don't  think  she  would  suit  me,  certainly. 
But  there's  her  cousin,  Judith — she's  very  good-natured  ? 

Ger.  Ah,  Judith's  a  pretty  girl,  if  you  please,  and  very 
good-natured,  as  you  say, — perhaps  a  little  too  good-na- 
tured. 

Pet.  No,  really,  humph  ! — 1  shouldn't  like  that.  What 
do  you  say  to  Anne  Stein  1 

Ger.  Everybody  says  she's  a  great  coquette.  See  her 
on  a  Sunday,  that's  all !  or  at  a  dance  at  the  fair  !  She's 
ahvays  changing  her  partner. 

Pet.  Oh,  if  she's  always  changing  her  partner— well, 
they  can't  say  that  of  the  little  Barbara  1 

Ger.  No,  because  she's  lame,  and  can't  dance  at  all. 

Pet.  That's  very  true  ;  poor  tiling,  she's  lame,  so  she  is. 
Well,  I  declare,  then,  Vrow  Wynk  herself! 

Ger.  Old  enough  to  be  your  grandmother. 

Pet.  And  Rachael,  her  daughter  1 

Ger.  She's  engaged  to  young  Maurice. 


10  THH    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER  [Act  I 

Pet.  The  devil !  Then  I  must  go  further  a-field,  for 
there's  nobody  else  that  I  know  of  in  this  place. 

Ger.  [Aside.\  Oh,  dear!  oh,  dear!  how  blind  he  is,  to 
be  sure. 

Pit.  Ah  ! — stop  !  What  a  fool  I  am,  never  to  have  re- 
membered — 

Ger.  Well,  who? — what? 

Pet.  Why,  that  to-morrow  will  be  market-day  here,  and, 
that  there'll  be  plenty  of  pretty  girls  from  all  the  villages 
round  about — so  1  can  choose  without  the  trouble  of  a  jour- 
ney. 

DUTCH  AIR.— Peter. 
To-morrow  will  be  market  day, 
The  streets  all  thronged  with  lasses  gay 
And  from  a  crowd  so  great,  no  doubt, 
Sweethearts  enough  I  may  pick  out. 
lu  verity,  verity,  &c. 

Gertrude. 
Be  not  too  bold,  for  hearts  fresh  caught, 
Are  ne'er.  I'm  told,  to  market  brought; 
The  best,  they  say,  are  given  away. 
Nor  left  to  sell  on  market  day. 
In  verity,  vei-ity,  &,c. 

Pet.  Well,  at  any  rate,  I'll  take  my  chance  of  to-mor- 
row. But  yonder's  Mamzelle  and  some  of  the  gentlefolks, 
so  I'll  go  and  hear  what  the  steward  has  done  for  me. 
Good  bye,  Gertrude.  I  say,  mind,  if  you  can  find  me  a 
nice,  little,  good-tempered  wife,  I'll  make  you  a  present 
the  day  I'm  married,  and  you  shall  dance  at  the  wedding. 

[  Exit,  R. 

Ger.  Now,  isn't  it  provoking  1  He  can  think  of  every 
body  but  me  ;  and  unless  I  were  to  say  to  him.,  plump, 
'*  Peter,  will  you  marry  me  1" — and  then,  if  he  should  say, 
"  No  !"  oh,  I  should  die  with  shame  and  disappointment. 
Oh,  dear !  oh,  de^r !  how  vexatious  it  is  !  And  it's  not 
only  Peter,  but  nobody  seems  to  think  me  worth  marrying 
at  all — nobody  ever  says  a  civil  thing  to  me  of  any  sort  I 
I  never  had  a  sweetheart  in  all  my  life,  and  I  do  believe 
that's  the  reason.  If  I  only  had  one  to  being  with,  J 
.  shouldn't  wonder  if  they  swarmed  afterwards. 
SONG. — ("  A  Temple  to  Friendship.'") 

I  don't  think  I'm  ugly  ! — I'm  only  just  twenty — 
I  know  I  sliould  m-ike  a  moat  excellent  wife: 


Scene!.]  THK    LOAN   OF   A    LOVER.  11 

The  girls  all  aroiind  me  have  lovers  in  plenty, 
But  I  not  a- sweetheart  can  get  for  my  liie  ! 

It  isn't  because  I  am  not  worth  a  penny, 

For  lapses  a?  poor  I've  known  dozens  to  win; 

That  I  should  have  none,  and  the  others  so  many, 
I  vow  and  declare  it's  a  shame  and  a  sin  ! 

[Retires  vp  the  stage,  sohhing   r. 

Enter  Ernestine  and  Captain  Amersfort,  l. 

Amer.  Why,  you  proposed  the  ride  yourself,  Ernestine. 

Em.  Perhaps  1  did  ;  but  I've  changed  my  mind. 

Amer.  Will  you  walk,  then  % 

Em.  It's  too  hot. 

Amer.  By  the  side  of  the  canal — under  the  trees  1 

Em.  By  the  side  of  the  canal  1  I  wonder  you  don't 
propose  that  I  should  tow  the  passage-boat. 

Amer.  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  you  proposed  something 
equally  extravagant.  For  myself,  I  have  done — I  shall 
suggest  nothing  else.  Please  yourself,  if  possible,  and  you 
will  please  me. 

Em.  Now  he's  out  of  humour. 

Amer.  No,  not  out  of  humour,  but  you  are  the  most  ca- 
pricious creature  ! 

Em.  Well,  well,  sir,  if  you  are  tired  of  your  allegiance, 
renounce  it  at  once.  I  have  plenty  of  slaves  at  my  foot- 
stool, who  will  serve  me  with  oriental  obedience  ! 

Amer.  (k.)  If  they  really  loved  you,  they  would  not  en- 
courage you  in  your  follies. 

Em.  (c.)  My  follies!  How  dare  you  talk  to  me  of  my 
follies,  sir  ]  Hold  your  tongue!  Hold  your  tongue,  di- 
rectly !  There's  Gertrude,  and  I  want  to  speak  to  her. 
G e  rtru d e  !  [  Calling. 

Ger.  {\..)  Yes,  raamzelle.  [Drying  her  eyes. 

Em.  What's  the  matter,  Gertrude?  you've  been  crying. 

Ger.  (i,.)  Yes,  manizelle. 

Em.  And  what  for ']  Has  any  one  vexed  you  1  some 
faithless  swain,  perhaps  ? 

-     Ger.  Oh,  dear,  no,  mamzelle.     1  wish  it  was — but  that's 
not  possible  !  [Bursts  out  afresh. 

Em.  How  d'ye  mean — not  possible,  cliildl 

Ger.  Because  I  haven't  got  a  swain  of  any  sort. 

Em.  Bless  the  girl  !  What,  no  sweetheart,  at  your 
age  7 


12  THE  LOAN  OK  A  LOVER.  [Act  L 

Gcr.  No,  marazelle. 

Em.  Then,  perhaps,  that's  what  you're  crying  about  1 

Ger.  Yes,  mamzelle. 

Em.  Silly  wench  !  you  ought  to  rejoice  at  it  rather;  th« 
men  are  nothing  but  plagues,  Gertrude.  Lovers,  indeed  ! 
there's  not  one  worth  having. 

Ger.  I — I  wish  I  had  one,  though,  just  to  try.  1  was 
just  sayincr  to  myself,  it  was  a  shame  that  some  young  w^- 
men  should  have  a  score,  and  others  none  at  aU. 

Ayner.  The  girl  is  right  enough  there.  It's  a  shame 
that  some  young  women  should  have  a  score,  and  hold  out 
equal  hopes  to  all. 

Em.  The  sooner  you  lessen  the  number  of  mine,  the 
better,  then.  I  could  manage  to  spare  even  the  gallant 
Captain  Amersfort — and — a  capital  thought !  as  you  seem 
so  concerned  at  the  unequal  division,  I'll  transfer  you  to 
Gertrude. 

Ger.  Law,  mamzelle,  you  don't  say  so  '?  Will  you, 
i-eally  % 

Amcr.  Ernestine  !     What  folly  ! 

Em.  I'm  quite  serious.  As  you  have  no  admirer,  Ger- 
trude, and  I  have  so  many,  I'll  give  you  one  of  mine. 

Ger.  Oh,  but  1  don't  want  you  to  give  me  one,  mamzelle. 
If  you'll  only  lend  me  a  beau— just  to  encourage  the 
others. 

Er7i.  Ha!  ha!  ha!  dehghtful !  That's  better  still! — 
you  hear,  sir,  I  am  not  to  give  you  up  altogether,  though 
you  deserve  it;  I  shall  only  try  your  obedience!  We 
command  you,  therefore,  on  pain  of  our  sovereign  displea- 
sure, to  pay  all  proper  attentions  to  our  handmaid,  Ger- 
trude ;  you  are  her  beau  till  further  notice. 

Amer.  Ernestine,  are  you  mad  % 

Em.  Mad  or  not,  you  wdll  obey  me,  or  take  the  conse- 
quences. I  won't  be  charged  with  folly  and  extravagance 
for  nothing. — \Aside?\  Remember,  I  have  promised  my  fa- 
ther to  decide  this  day  in  favour  of  somebody.  If  you 
hesitate  only,  you  are  excluded  from  all  chance. — [.4/o?///.] 
Gertrude,  I  lend  you  a  beau,  on  your  personal  security, 
mind. 

Ger.  Oh,  you  needn't  be  afraid,  mamzelle — I'll  take  the 
greatest  care  of  hire — and,  besides — 


Scene  I  |  THE   LOAN   OF    A   LOVER.  13 

DUTCH  AIR.— Gertrude. 

Think  not  1  the  heart  would  keep, 

I'm  content  to  borrow; 
See,  if  I  don't  liave  a  heap, 

To  pay  it  fi-om,  to-morrow. 
Money,  money  makes,  they  say — 

The  job  is  to  get  any  ! 
And  lovers  grow — so  money  may. 

Ernestine. 
Oh,  yes,  one  fool  makes  many. 

Em.  [To  Amersfort.]  One  step,  and  you  lose  me  forever. 

[Exit. 

Amer.  [To  himself.]  This  passes  everything.  I  am  a 
fool,  indeed,  and  love  her  like  a  fool,  or  I  would  never 
bear — 

Ger.  Only  think!  I've  got  a  beau  at  last — and  such  a 
beau — an  officer  !  a.  fine,  young,  handsome  officer  ! 
What'll  Peter  say  to  that  1 

Amcr.  And  while  I  thus  humour  her  caprices,  she  re- 
turns to  the  house  to  flirt  with  that  puppy,  Amstell,  or  that 
booby,  Blankenburg. 

Ger.  But  he  takes  no  more  notice  of  me  than  Peter, 
himself. 

Amer.  I  will  not  endure  it.     I  will  follow  her,  and — 

Ger.  Stop  !  stop  !  you  mustn't  run  away — you're  only 
lent  to  me,  you  know — and  if  I  should  lose  you,  there'll  be 
a  pretty  business ! 

A?}ier.  [Laughing  in  despite  of  himself .]  Upon  my  word, 
this  is  is  too  ridiculous.  So  you  really  look  upon  me  as 
a  loan,  do  you "? 

Ger.  Yes,  and  I  don't  choose  to  be  left  alone.  My  stars! 
Peter  could  do  that. 

Amer.  Peter  !  who's  Peter  ]  I  thought  you  said  you 
hadn't  a  sweetheart  in  the  world  1 

Ger.  Nor  have  I. 

Amer.  Come,  come,  no  fibs  !  You've  betrayed  yourself 
This  said  Peter,  isn't  he  a  sweetheart  ? 

G'  r.  No,  I  don't  think  he  is — at  least,  I  don't  know. 
What  do  you  call  a  sweetheart — one  whom  you  love,  or 
one  who  loves  you  1 

Amer.  One  who  loves  you,  of  course. 
B 


14  TIIK    LOAN    Or     A     l.OVKR.  [AcT  I. 

Gcr.  Vv^ell,  then,  I'm  right,  he  is  not  my  sweetheart ; 
but  T  am  his,  for  1  love  Iwm  dearly. 

Amer.  What  a  candid  little  soul !  And  so  you  really 
love  Peter  dearly,  though  Peter  doesn't  love  you  ]  But 
are  you  sure  he  doesn't  love  you  ? 

Gcr.  1  don't  believe  he  ever  thought  about  it. 

Amer.  Is  it  possible !  Why,  you  are  very  pretty.  [Aside.] 
Upon  my  soul,  she  is  uncommonly  pretty.  I  wonder  I  ne- 
ver noticed  her  before.  [Aloud.]  And  so  Peter  has  never 
tliought  about  you  1 

Ger.  No— 

S>G:sG.—("  Faut  Voblier.") 

I've  no  money ;  so,  you  see, 
Peter  never  thinks  of  me — 

I  own  it  to  my  sorrow ! 
Oh,  could  I  gi-ow  rich,  and  he 
Be  reduced  to  poverty, 
What  sweet  revenge  'twould  be  for  me 

To  many  him  to-morrow  ! 

Peter's  thought  almost  a  fool, 
You  have  profited  by  school — 

Wit  from  you  folks  bon-ow  ! 
Peter's  plain — you  handsome,  gay ; 
But  if  you  were  both  to  say — 
"  Will  you  have  me,  Gertrude,  pray  ?" 

I'd  marry  him  to-moiTOW  ! 

Amer.  There's  love  ! — there's  devotion!  What  chaim- 
inor  frankness  ! — what  innocent  enthusiasm  !  By  Jove  ! 
if  she  wasn't  so  fond  of  another,  I  should  be  almost  tempted 
— if  it  were  only  to  punish  Ernestine  !  I — I — [Aloud.] 
Confound  that  Peter  !  Almost  a  fool — he  must  be  a  down- 
rio-ht  idiot  not  to  fall  head  over  ears  in  love  with  such  a 
sweet,  dear,  bewitching —  [CatcJies-  Iter  round  the  waist; 
lie  is  about  to  kiss  her  as  Peter  Spyk  enters  with 

SVVYZEL. 

Swy.  I  beg  your  pardon,  captain. 

[Both,  stop  s^iort — Feter  staring  at  Gertrude. 
Ger.  [Aside?\  Oh,  lud,  there  is  Peter  ! 
Amer.  What  the  devil  do  you  want  % 
*S//-7/.  Only  to  introduce  Peter  Spyk — an  honest  young 
farmer — who  desires  to  be  your  honour's  tenant. 
Amer.  Peter  Spyk  !      What,  is  this  the  Peter? 
Ger.  Yes,  that's  Peter  Spyk  :   and  he  wants  to  rent  your 


Scene  I.] 


THK    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER.  15 


farm  of  Appledoorn  ;  and  I  am  sure  you  can't  do  better 
than  to  let  him  have  it,  for  he's  as  good  a  farmer,  and  as 
honest  a  young  man — 

Amer.  If  you  interest  yourself  for  him,  my  dear  Ger- 
trude, that  is  sufficient. — [Aside  to  Swyzc1.\  Swyze),  come 
here — I  am  much  interested  about  this  girl ! — I've  taken  a 
great  fancy  to  her ! 

Sivy.  What,  to  our  Gertrude  ? — to  that  poor,  simple 
thing  %  Well,  I  thought  just  now  you  seemed  rather — 
eh  1  You're  a  terrible  man,  captain  !  What  will  mam- 
zelle  say  1 

Amer.  Oh,  it's  all  in  pure  friendship,  I  assure  you ;  but 
come  this  way,  and  tell  me  all  you  know  about  her.  [Aloud 
to  Peter.]  I'll  speak  to  you  presently,  young  man. 

[AiJiersfort  and  Swyzel  enter  the  summer-] louse,  r.  s.  e. 

Ger.  Peter,  you'll  have  the  farm  ! 

Pet.  No,  shall  I,  thouo^h  %  Well,  I  thoudit  he  said 
something  like  it ;  and  because  you  asked  him,  too  !  I 
say,  you  and  he  seem  great  friends— he'd  got  his  arm 
around  your  waist! 

Ger.  Had  he  ? — oh,  yes,  I  believe  he  had. 

Pet.  Well,  now,  I've  known  you  ever  since  you  were 
that  high,  and  I'm  sure  I  never  put  my  arm  round  your 
waist ! 

Ger.  No,  that  you  never  did  !  But  then,  he's  my  sweet- 
heart ! 

Pet.  Your  sweetheart? — yours?  What,  the  captain? 
Pshaw!  you're  joking! 

Ger.  Joking  ! — indeed  I'm  not  joking  !  What  is  there 
so  strange  in  it,  pray  ? 

Pet.  VVhy,  in  the  first  place,  he's  mamzelle's  sweet- 
heart! 

Ger.  Not  now. 

Pet.  What,  has  he  left  her  for  you  ?  Why,  what  can  a 
rich  officer  like  that  see  in  a  poor  servant  girl  1 

Ger.  Don't  be  a  brute,  Peter !  If  you  can't  see  any- 
thing to  like  in  me,  it's  no  reason  that  others  should  not. 

Pet.  Me  ! — oh,  that's  a  different  affiiir;  because  you  and 
I,  you  know,  there's  not  so  much  difference  betu^een  us, 
and — oh,  by  the  bye,  talking  of  that — I've  been  thinking 
of  what  you  said  to  me,  and  I  wont  wait  any  longer — not 
even  till  to-morrow^ — I've  fixed  on  Anne  Stein.     Her  mo- 


16  Tllfc:    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER. 


[Act  I 


tlier  was  here  just  now,  on  some  business  with  old  Swyzel, 
and  something  was  dropped  about  my  having  the  Apple- 
doorn  farm ;  and  Swyzel  says,  she  gave  him  a  hint  that 
her  daughter  Anne  was  very  fond  of  me,  and  that  decid- 
ed me  at  once. 

Ger.  It  did  1 

Pet.  Oh,  yes ;  because,  where  a  woman  is  really  fond  of 
one,  you  know — So,  directly  I've  settled  with  the  captain 
about  the  farm,  I'll  post  off  to  Widow  Stein's,  and — well, 
what's  the  matter  with  you,  Gertrude  1  Why,  you  are 
crying! 

Gcr.  Nothing — nothing  !  I  wish  you  may  be  happy — 
that's  all,  Peter. 

Pet.  Thank  ye — thank  ye  !  It's  very  kind  of  you  to  cry 
for  joy  about  me,  I'm  sure — and  I  won't  forget  my  pro- 
mise. 

Re-erder  Amersfort  and  Swyzel  froin  the  summer' 
house,  R.  s.  E. 

Swy.  You  can't  be  in  earnest.  Captain  % 

Amcr.  I  tell  you,  there  it  is,  in  black  and  white  !  Put 
a  wafer  in  that  [Giving  a  nofe\,  and  send  it  immediately 
to  my  lawyer's,  as  directed. 

Swi/.  [Aside]  Two  thousand  crowns  to  portion  off  a 
wench  like  that.     'Gad,  she  wont  want  a  husband  long. 

[Exit,  R. 

Amer.  [  To  Pete?:]  Now  for  you.  Farmer.  I  find  there 
are  writing  materials  in  the  summer-house,  so  we  can — 

Ger.  Stop  !  stop  ! — one  word. 

Amer.   What  is  it  1 

Ger.  [Leading  him  apart  from  Peter.]  You  are  my  beau, 
you  know,  and  you're  to  do  everything  I  bid  you  ' 

A7ner.  Of  course. 

Ger.  Well,  then,  I  bid  you  refuse  the  farm  to  Peter 
Spyk  ! 

Amer.   Refuse  ! — Why,  I  thought  you  said — 

Gcr.  It  doesn't  signify  what  I  said  ! — I've  changed  my 
mind  !  I  suppose  I  may  do  that  as  well  as  your  fine  la- 
dies !  You're  to  obey  me  ! — Mamzelle  Ernestine  said  bo: 
and  I  don't  choose  you  shall  let  Peter  have  the  farm  ! 

[Speaking  the  hiS'  fire  icords  loud  enough  for  Petey  to 
hrar. 


Scene  1.]  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVEU.  17 

Pet.  [Aside.]  '' Let  Peter  have  the  farm  F^  'Gad,  she's 
giving  me  a  famous  lift  with  the  Captain. 

Ayner.  Well,  if  you  don't  choose,  he  sha'n't  have  it,  cer- 
tainly ;  and  I'm  not  sorry,  for  1  don't  think  he  deserves  it. 
And  now  listen  to  me.  1  mean  to  help  you  to  a  good  hus- 
band, and,  in  return,  you  must  assist  me  in  a  little  plot.  I 
can't  stay  to  tell  you  now ;  but  meet  me  in  half  an  hour's 
time  at  the  sun-dial  yonder.     May  I  depend  upon  you  ] 

Ger.  That  you  may. 

Amer.  Enough!  Now,  [Crosses,  l.\  Master  Peter  Spyk, 
follow  me.  There's  no  occasion  for  writing:  we  can  set- 
tle this  business  in  two  words. 

Pet.  [Aside.]  The  farm's  mine  !  [  To  Gertrude.]  I  owe 
you  a  good  turn  for  this !  [Exit  luith  Amersfort^  l. 

Ger.  Indeed  you  do.  If  Anne  Stein  marries  him  now, 
I'm  mistaken  in  the  family  altogether. 

P\.e-cnter  Swyzel,  r. 

Swy,  I've  sent  Delve  with  the  note ;  but  I've  made  up 
my  mind.  I'm  not  a  young  man,  certainly  ;  and  I  had 
no  idea  of  changing  my  situation ;  but  two  thousand 
crowns  will  suit  me  as  well  as  anybody  in  the  world,  and 
so  here  goes — there's  nothing  like  being  first  in  the  field. 
[Aloud.]  Gertrude!  Gertrude! — come  hither,  Gertrude; 
I  want  to  say  a  word  to  you  in  private  ! 

Ger.  To  me,  Master  Steward  ]  [Aside.]  Oh,  dear,  now 
he's  going  to  scold  me  for  something,  I'm  sure.  A  cross 
old  patch ! 

Swi/.  Come  here,  I  tell  you  !  Nearer — don't  be  afraid 
— I'm  going  to  propose  something  for  your  good,  my 
dear  ! 

Ger.  [Aside.]  "My  dear!"  Bless  me,  how  kind  he's 
grown  all  of  a  sudden  ! 

Siv//.  I've  known  you  a  long  while.  Gertrude — from 
your  cradle,  in  fact.  I  knew  your  poor  dear  father  and 
mother,  and  I  always  had  a  great  affection  for  you ! 

Ger.  You,  Mynheer  Swyzel  1 — I'm  sure  you  never 
showed  it,  then. 

Sl-//.  May  be  not — may  be  nrit  !  I  was  afraid  of  spoil- 
ing you,  as  a  child  ;  but  now,  you  know,  you  are  grown 
up,  and  very  nicely  you  have  grown  up — I  see  it  more  and 
more  eve;'v  dav — and,  in  short,  Gertrude  I've  been  think- 


18  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER. 


[ACTl 


iiig  that,  as  1  am  a  bachelor,  I  couldn't  do  better  than  mar- 
ry a  good,  pretty  girl  like  you,  whose  character  and  tem- 
per 1  have  watched  the  growth  of  from  an  infant. 

Ger.  You — you.  Mynheer  Swyzel,  marry  me  ] 

Sictj.  Why  not — why  not  % — if  you  have  no  objectian. 
I'm  only  fifty-five,  and  a  hale,  hearty  man  for  that  age.  I 
have  saved  soine  mon^y  in  the  service,  and — 

Ger.  But  I  haven't  a  doit  in  the  world  ! 

Swy.  Nay;  nay! — you  are  richer  than  you  think  for  ! 

Ger.  Eh  '.' 

Swy.  In  charms — in  youth  and  beauty  ! — 

Ger.  [Aside.]  So — so  !  here's  a  real,  downright  sweet- 
heart at  last ! — and  old  Swyzel,  too,  of  all  men  in  the 
world  !     I  shall  die  of  laug^hing^ ! 

Sn-y.  [Asicle.\  She's  silent ! — she  hesitates  !  The  two 
thousand  crowns  are  mine  ! 

DUTCH  AIR.— Swyzel. 

~  My  ears  with  sweet  conssntmeut  bless  ! 

Gertrudk. — [Aside."] 

The  moon  must,  sure,  be  about  full ! 
\_Aloud.']  I  don't  say  no — I  don't  say  yeg. 

Swyzel. 

Alack  !  that's  rather  doubtful ! 

Gertrudk. 

What  proofs  have  I  you  mean  nie  fair  ■? 
Your  sex  is  of  deceit,  thi'oughout,  full, 

Swyzel. 
Upon  my  honour,  I  declare  ! 
Gertrujje. 
Alack  !  that's  rather  doubtful ! 
Ger.  [jiside.]  Here's   Peter  comins^  back.     If  I  could 
manage — \AJoud.\   Besides,  that  isn't  the  way  to  swear  you 
love  a  body — you  should  go  down  on  your  knees  ! 

Swy.  There! — there,  then!  [Knee's.]  Charming  Ger- 
trude, on  my  knees  1  swear  eternal  love  and  constancy  ! 

Enter  Peteu,  l 

Pet.  Halloo  ! — why,  Mynheer  Swyzel,  what  are  you 
doing  there  1 


Scene  1.] 


THE    LOAN    OF    A    LCVER.  19 


Swy.  [Scrambling  up.]  Confusion  !  \ Aloud.]  I— nothing- 
only  kneeling  to — \ Aside  to  Gertrude.]  Don't  say  anything 
to  that  fool.  Come  to  my  room  as  soon  as  you've  got  rid 
of  him.  [Exit,  r. 

Ger.  You  here  again,  Peter  1 

Pet.  Here  again  ! — I  believe  I  am,  too  ;  and  just  as  I 
went  away.  Would  you  believe  it  1 — Captain  Amersfort 
won't  let  me  have  the  farm  after  all  ! 

Ger.  Dear  me  ! — you  don't  say  so  1 

Pet.  He  wouldn't  hear  a  word  ;  and,  to  make  matters 
worse,  old  Widow  Stein,  who  saw  me  talking  to  him, 
waited  to  hear  the  upshot ;  and,  when  1  told  her,  she  as 
good  as  gave  me  to  understand  that  I  wasn't  match  enough 
for  her  daughter,  and  that  Anne  herself  liked  Groot,  the 
miller,  much  better  than  she  did  me  !  A  coquette  ! — you 
said  she  was  a  coquette  ! — and  you  were  quite  right.  I 
don't  know  how  it  is,  but  you're  always  right ! — you've 
got  more  sense  than  all  of  'em  put  together  ;  and,  for  the 
matter  of  looks,  why,  there's  ihe  captain's  vows — and, 
talking  of  vows,  what  was  old  Swyzel  about  on  his  knees'? 
1  do  believe  he  was  Yowing,  too  ! 

Ger.  Between  you  and  me,  he  was  vowing  all  sorts  of 
love  to  me  ! — and  he  wants  me  to  marry  him  ! 

Pet.  Marry  him  ! — marry  old  Swyzel  ! — and  will  you  ? 

Ge?'.  I  don't  know  ! — vv'hat  do  you  think  ]  Would  you 
like  me  to  marry  him,  Peter? 

Pet.  Not  at  all !  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  I  can't  fan- 
cy your  marrying  anybody — that  is,  I  nev^r  thought  o£  i/our 
marrying  anybody ;  and,  now  I  do  think  of  it,  I  think — 

Ger.  Well— What  1 

Enter  Delve,  ivi'tli  a  note,  r. 

Del.  Oh,  Gertrude,  here  you  are  ;  here's  a  note  for  you. 
It's  very  particular— they  gave  me  a  florin  to  run  all  the 
way  ! 

Ger.  A  note  for  me  ? — who  is  it  from  % 

Del.  The  clerk  at  Van  Nickem's,  the  lawyer's.  I  took 
a  letter  there  for  the  captain,  and,  as  his  master  wasn't  at 
home,  the  clerk  opened  it,  and  wrote  this  answer  to  the 
captain,  and  then  scribbled  that  for  you,  and  begged  me 
to  give  you  yours  first — and  so  I  have  :  and  now  I  must 
find  the  captain.  [Exit,  r. 


20  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVLEl.  [Act  I 

Gei  A  note  for  me  1  Nobody  ever  wrote  to  me  before; 
and,  if  they  had,  it  would  have  been  no  use,  for  I  can't 
read  written  hand.  You  can,  Peter  ;  so  pray  open  it,  and 
let's  hear  what  it's  all  about. 

Pet.  [OpeJiing  and  reading?^  '^  Mamzelley  Mamzelle, 
to  you  ! 

Ger.  Go  on — go  on. 

Pet.  "  I  have  loved  you  ahove  all  earthly  beings  /" 

Ger.  Bless  us,  and  save  us  ! 

Pet.  "  /  dared  not  disclose  my  passion  ;  but,  believe  me, 
my  affection  ivas  equal  to  my  silenced 

Ger.  Then  it  was  great  indeed  ! 

Pet.  "  1  have  at  length  siimmoned  coverage  to  address  you, 
and  if  the  offer  of  my  hand  and  fortune'^ — another  propo- 
sal ! — who  is  the  fellow  that  \\'rites  this  ? 

Ger.  Van  Nickem's  clerk.  Delve  told  you. 

Pet.  Yes ;  here's  his  ugly  name,  sure  enough,  at  the 
bottom  of  it — Simon  Sneek  ! 

Ger.  Ah!  if  1  recollect,  he's  rather  a  good-looking  young 
man  ! 

Pet.  Why,  you  don't  m^ean  to — 

Ger.  Surely,  he's  better  than  old  Swyzel ! 

Pet.  Well !  but  what  does  it  all  mean  1  Everybody 
wants  to  maiTy  you  1 

Ger.  I  can't  help  that — can  1 1  Biit  I  shan't  be  in  a 
hurry  ;  I  shall  do  as  you  do — look  about  me  ;  perhaps 
somebody  may  offer  that  I  should  like  better.  [Clock 
strikes.]  Hark]  that's  two  o'clock!  [Cros^scs,  l.] — and  I 
promised  to  meet  the  captain  at  the  sun-dial  yonder.  Good 
bye,  Peter;  and  mind,  if  you  can  find  me  a  husband  that 
I  should  like  better  than  any  of  these,  I'll  make  you  a  pre- 
sent the  day  I'm  married,  and  you  shall  dance  at  the  wed- 
ding. \Runs  out,  L. 

Pet.  \ Stands  staring  after  her,  ivith  the  note  open  in  his 
hand..\  Well,  when  she  talks  of  Anne  Stein  always  chang- 
ing her  partner — she's  off  to  meet  the  captain  now  ;  and 
yet  she  says  to  me,  "  if  you  can  find  me  a  husband  I  should 
like  better!"  the  idea  of  Gertrude  having  a  husband  ! — a 
little  girl,  that  was  only  a  baby  the  other  day,  as  it  seems 
to  me.  I  wonder  if  she'd  like  me  better ;  because  if  she 
would — I  want  a  wife  myself — and  1  don't  know  why  I 
didn't  at  first  —But  there  goes  that  cursed  captain,  running 


Scene  I.]  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER.  21 

like  mad  to  meet  her ! — 'Gad !  I  begin  to  feel  that  I  don't 
like  it  at  all.  Why  can't  he  keep  to  his  fine  ladies,  and 
let  the  others  alone  1  I  don't  go  and  make  love  to  Mam- 
zelle  Ernestine,  do  1 1  What  business  has  he  to  talk  a 
pack  of  stuff  to  Gertrude,  and  turn  the  poor  girl's  head  1 
He'd  better  mind  what  he's  about,  though — I  can  tell  him 
that !  If  he  makes  her  unhappy,  I  wouldn't  be  in  his  shoes 
for  something,  for  I  should  break  every  bone  in  my  own 
skin  ! 

Enter  Delve,  r. 

Del.  What's  the  matter,  Master  Peter  ]  you  don't  look 
pleased. 

Pet.  Well,  I  have  been  pleased  better. 

Del.  Anything  in  that  note  1 

Pet.  This  note  ? — no.  This  is  the  note  you  brought 
from  Van  Nickem's.  There's  that  young  rogue,  Sneek, 
wants  to  marry  Gertrude. 

Del.  To  marry  Gertrude  !  well,  now,  do  you  know,  I 
think  he  might  do  worse. 

Pet.  Might  do  worse  ? — I  believe  he  might,  too  ! 

Del.  Gertrude's  by  no  means  ill-looking. 

Pet.  Ili-Jooking  1 — she's  very  pretty. 

Del.  Well — yes — I  think  she  is, — and  very  good-tem- 
pered. 

Pet.  The  best  humoured  soul  in  the  world. 

Del.  Do  you  know,  Master  Peter,  if  I  thought  there  was 
any  chance  of  our  living  comfortably  together,  I  shouldn't 
mind  making  up  to  Gertrude  myself. 

Pet.  You  ! — you  be  hanged  ! 

Del.  Hanged!  what  for,  1  should  like  to  know  1  I 
question,  now,  if  I  couldn't  afford  to  marry  as  well  as  young 
Sneek — he  doesn't  get  much  out  of  Van  Nickem's  pocket, 
Pll  swear. 

Pet.  Well,  you  needn't  trouble  your  head  about  it,  be- 
cause you  shan't  have  her. 

Del.  Why,  Farmer  Spyk,  what  have  you  to  do  v/ith  it  1 
— sujipose  1  choose,  and  she  chooses,  you're  neither  her 
father  nor  her  mother.  If  you  put  my  blood  up,  I'll  go 
and  ask  her  at  once. 

Pet.  And  if  you  do,  you'll  put  7inj  blood  up — and  then 
I  shall  knock  you  down. 


22  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER.  [Act  I. 

Del.  Knock  me  down  !      Donner  and  blitzen  ! 

Pet.  Don't  provoke  me !  I'm  getting  desperate — I  mean 
to  marry  Gertrude  myself,  if  she'll  have  me,  and  I'll  fight 
anybody  for  her,  with  fists,  knives,  pistols — anything  ! 

Enter  Ernestine,  r. 

Ern.  Heyday  !  heyday  !  what  is  all  this  noise  about — 
and  threat  of  fighting  ] 

Del.  It's  Farmer  Spyk  here,  and  please  you,  Mamzelle, 
he  threatens  to  knock  me  down  if  I  go  a-courting  to  Gev- 
irude — and  all  in  an  honest  way,  too.  I'll  be  damned  if  I 
don't  go  and  ask  her  right  away.  [Exit,  l. 

Ern.  To  Gertrude  ! — why,  how  long  have  you  taken 
this  fancy  into  your  head  ? 

Pet.  Why,  not  five  minutes,  Mamzelle,  and  he  has  the 
impudence  to  set  himself  up  against  me,  who  have  been 
in  love  with  her — more  than  half  an  hour  ! 

Ern.  And  where  is  the  fair  object  of  your  contention  1 
— what  does  she  say  to  these  sudden  passions  ? 

Pet.  I'm  waiting  to  know  what  she'll  say  to  mine — but 
she's  a  plaguy  long  time  with  the  Captain.    He's  the  only" 
rival  I'm  afraid  of;  she  seems  deuced  fond  of  him — and 
he  raves  about  her. 

Em.  [Alarmed.]  He  does  !  [Recovering  herself .\  But,  of 
course — I  desired  him. 

Pet.  You  desired  him,  Mamzelle  1 

Ern.  Yes ;  1  commanded  him  to  make  love  to  her. 

Pet.  Well,  he  won't  be  broke  for  disobedience,  then — 
that's  all  I  can  say — for  he  does  make  love  to  her  most  fu- 
riously. 1  caught  them  myself  with  his  arm  round  her 
waist,  this  morning;  and  I  dare  say  it's  round  it  now,  if 
the  truth  was  known  ;  but  I  can't  see,  for  that  beastly  hol- 
ly-bush. 

Ern.  Why,  where  are  they,  then? 

Pet.  She  was  to  meet  him  at  the  sun^^ial,  and  I  saw 
him  slinking  through  the  trees  yonder;  and  just  nov/  I'm 
almost  certain  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  them  at  the  end  of 
that  walk. 

Ern.  \Aslde.\  I  don't  like  this  account :  I'm  afraid  I've 
acted  very  silly.  1  repented  of  the  freak  almost  as  soon 
as  I  left  them  ;  but  my  pride  would  not  suffer  me  to  re- 
turn. The  girl's  pretty — very  pretty;  and  ifAraersfort, 
enraged  at  my  indifierence,   should,   out  of  mere  spite — 


fcEKEl.J  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER.  23 

8uch  things  nave  happened — oh,  dear !   I  do  not  like  it  at 
all. 

Pet.  There  she  goes  !  there  she  goes  ! 

Em.  With  the  Captain] 

Pet.  No,  by  herself — and  there's  Delve  after  her  as 
hard  as  he  can  scamper!  I'll  follow — I'll — no,  I  can't — 
I  can't  move — I — 1  feel  very  ill — my  head  spins  round 
like  a  top.     Here  comes  the  Captain. 

Em.  Amersfort  !   I  am  ready  to  sink  ! 

Pet.  Don't,  don't,  mamzelle — for  I've  no  strength  to 
catch  you. 

Enter  Amersfort,  l. 

Amer.  \As'ule?^  She  is  here — now  for  the  trial. — Made- 
moiselle Ernestine,  I  came  to  seek  you. 

Em.  Indeed,  sir:  and  for  what  purpose]  I  thought  I 
had  desired  you  to  pay  your  attentions  in  another  quarter 
for  the  present. 

Amer.  It  is  in  perfect  accordance  with  that  desire,  that 
1  have  sought  this  interview.  I  am  anxious  to  express 
my  gratitude  for  the  Wessing  which  you  have  so  unex- 
pectedly bestowed  on  me. 

Em.  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ? 

Amer.  I  mean.  Mademoiselle  Rosendaal,  that  the  heart 
you  treated  with  so  much  indifference  has  been  accepted 
by  one  of  the  most  lovely  and  amiable  of  your  sex ;  and 
that,  in  the  affection  of  Gertrude,  it  has  found  a  balm  for 
all  the  wounds  you  had  so  wantonly  inflicted  on  it. 

Pet.  There  !  there  !  I  told  you  so  ! 

Em.  Upon  my  word,  sir !  and  you  have  the  assurance 
to  make  this  confession  to  me  ] 

Amer.  Why  not,  Mfademoiselle  ?  We  are  not  masters 
of  our  own  affections,  and  therefore  I  will  not  reproach 
you.  But  can  you  be  surprised  that  I  should  weary  of 
loving  one  who  did  not  love  me  ]  or  that,  stung  to  the 
quick  by  your  contempt,  I  should  be  more  sensible  to  the 
kindness  and  sympathy  of  another  ]     Gertrude  is  lovely  ! 

Pet.  She  is  !   she  is  ! 

Amer.  The  sweetest  tempered — the  most  frank  and  af- 
fectionate of  beings  ! 

Pet.  Too  true  !  too  true  ! 

Amer.  The  possession  of  her  heart  is  a  blessing  mon- 
archs  might  envy  me. 


24  THE    LOAN    OF    A    LOVER.  [Act  I. 

Pet.  1  shall  go  mad  ! 

Afuer.  And  moiiarchs  have  matched  with  maidens  as 
lowly  born,  and  far  less  deserving. 

Em.  Enough  ! — enough,  sir  ! 

PeL  No,  it's  not  enough  !  he  can't  say  too  much  about 
her.     She  hasn't  her  equal  upon  earth. 

Amer.  You  are  right,  farmer ;  and  I  thank  you  for  the 
honest  warmth  with  which  you  justify  my  choice. 

Pet.  Your  choice  !     Don't  touch  me. 

Aiyier.  My  sweet  bride, — my  affianced  wife, — Madame 
Amersfort  will  thank  you  in  person. 

Pet.  His  wife  !  Madame  Amersfort !  Cruel,  faithless 
Gertrude  i 

JLyner.  Faithless  !  why,  did  you  ever  propose  to  her  1 

Amer.  No :  but  I  meant  to  do  so. — Oh,  dear  ! 

Em.  Your  wife  !  your  wife  !  And  you  really  intend  to 
marry  this  orphan  girl  ? 

Amer.  I  have  desired  my  lawyer  to  prepare  her  mar- 
riage contract,  which  shall  be  signed  this  evening. 

Pet.  Oh  !  • 

Em.  Not  in  this  house,  sir !  I  will  not  be  insulted  to 
that  extent.     I  go  this  moment  to  inform  my  father. 

Amer.  The  Baron  Van  Rosendaal  is  already  informed, 
and  approves  of  my  intentions. 

Em.  Approves  !     We  shall  see,  sir — we  shall  see  ! 

AIR.— (From  "  The  Challenge:') 
Ernestine. 
Such  pei-fidy  never  was  known — 
I  joy  in  its  unmasking  ! 

Peter. 
Ch,  Gertnide.  you've  a  heart  of  stone. 
To  break  a  heart  so  tnie  ! 

Amersfort. 
Why,  had  she  promised  you  ? 

Peter. 
No,  there's  her  falsehood  shown ! 
So  bent  was  she  on  jilting  me, 
She  could  not  wait  for  asking. 

Amersfort. 
Well,  there  •w'ith  you  I  must  agree. 
Such  falsehood  ne'er  was  known. 


Scene  I.]  the  loan  of  a  lover.  25 

Tm  sure  with  me  you  must  agree 
Such  falsehood  ne'er  was  known  ; 

Ernestine. 

'Tis  well,  'tis  well,  sir  we  shall  see. 
Such  falsehood  ue"er  was  known.  [Exit,  R. 

Amer.  (Aside.)  Yes,  yes,  my  fair  tyrant,  yonr  father  is 
in  the  plot !  I  think  we  have  you  now. — (Aloud.)  Well, 
my  good  friend,  I  must  say  I  pity  you  extremely: — you  have 
lost  a  model  of  a  wife. 

Pei.     Don't  !  don't ! 

Amer.  But  where  is  she  ? — where  is  my  adored  Ger- 
trude ? 

Ente)-  Gertrude,  l.  s.  e.,  dressed  as  a  bride.  Amersfort 
makes  signs  to  her  not  to  speak,  and  points  at  Peter,  loho 
stands  in  an  attitude  of  comic  despair,  with  his  hack  to- 
wards them. 

I  must  hasten  to  find  her.  I  cannot  bear  to  be  an  instant 
from  her  sight.  Oh,  |>eter  !  Peter  !  what  a  treasure  has 
escaped  you  !      [Exit,  r.,  exchanging  signs  with  Gertrude. 

Pet.  (Soliloquising.)  Escaped  me  ! — as  if  I  were  a  mad 
dog,  and  it  was  an  escape  for  Gertrude  !  An  escape  !  and 
I  have  let  her  escape  !  Well,  well,  she  wont  be  Madame 
Swyzel,  or  Madame  Sneek;..and  that  rascal  Delve  hasn't 
got  her — that's  one  comfort.  Comfort  I  I  talk  of  comfort  ? 
I  shall  never  knov/  comfort  again  I  Oh,  Gertrude  1  Ger- 
trude 1 

(Advancing,  r.)     Did  you  call  me,  Peter  ? 

Pet.  Ha!  what  do  I  see?  There's  a  dress — a  wedding 
dress  !     It  is  I  it  is  ! 

Ger.  It  is — it  is  a  beautiful  dress,  as  you  say  and  I 
don't  wonder  you  start  to  see  me  in  such  a  dress;  but  as 
the  bride  of  a  Captain,  you  know — 

Pet.  (l.)  It  is  true,  then,  you  are  going — going  to  mar- 
ry Captain  Amersfort  ? 

Ger.  Ah,  he  has  told  you,  then  ?  Well,  I  was  in  hopes 
of  giving  you  an  agreeable  surprise. 

Pet.     An  agreeable  surprise  ! 

Ger.  Why  are  you  not  delighted,  Peter,  at  my  good 
fortune  ? 


26  THE    LOAN    OF    A    I.OVF.R.  [AcT    I. 

Pet.     Delighted  ! 

Ger.  Only  think — a  poor  orphan  girl  like  rao,  whom  no- 
body loved,  and  nobody  cared  about — 

Pet.  It  isn't  true.  I  cared  about  you — I  loved  you- 
I  doated  on  you  ! 

Ger.  You,  Peter  !  you!  Mercy  on  rae!  And  wiiy 
didn't  you  tell  me  so,  then  ? 

Pet.  Because  I  didn't  know  it  myself,  then;  but  I  do 
now,  Gertrude — I  do  now, 

Ger.     Xow! — now  that  is  too  late  ? 

Pet.     But  is  it  ? — Is  it  too  late  ?     You  are  not  married 

yet. 

Ger.  Xo,  but  I  have  promised.  The  contract  is  ordered, 
and  this  beautiful  dress  was  bought  by  the  Captain  on  pur- 
pose. You  would  not  have  me  behave  so  shamefully  to  ono 
who  loves  Die  dearly? 

Pet.     But  I — I  love  you  dearly. 

Ger.  Ah,  if  you  had  but  said  so  an  hour  ago!  But  yon 
thought  of  everybody  but  me. 

Pet.  I  know  it — I  know  it.  But  then  nobody  thought 
of  you;  and  now  everybody  does,  aM  it  proves  to  me  that 
you — you  are  the  only  girl  in  tiie  world  that  1  ought  to 
marry  ;  and  if  you  won't  have  me,  I — I  know  what  I'll 
do. 

Ger.     Dear  me,  Peter,  what  ? 

Pet.     I'll  fling  myself  into  the  canal, 

Ger.     Nonsense ! 

Pet.  You  see  if  I  don't  then.  I'm  not  desperate  till  I 
take  anything  in  my  head;  but  then  nothing  can  turn  me. 

AIR ("  Take  care  of  the  corner.") 

Peter. 

I  rush  to  my  fate. 

And  my  funeral  straight- 
Way  shall  follow  my  latest  tran.«gression 

And  in  the  chnvch-yavd 

It  shaU  go  very  hard 
Bat  it  meets  with  your  bridal  procession 

\Yhen  my  coiSa  a{)pears, 

You  will  melt  into  tears. 
And  your  friends  in  your  grief  wiil  be  sharers 

Gkhtkupe. 
Oh,  yes,  not  only  T, 


'>-  '■;•"<  H    I.]  TIIC    LOAX    OF    A    !.OVF.R.  '27 

Hilt  my  lius'oand  will  cry — 
/  "  Stand  out  of  the  wny,'"  to  the  bearers ! 

Pet.  Laughed  at  I  I'll  jump  over  the  wall,  here,  into 
the  canal,  Ijefore  jour  face. 

Ger.  Indeed  you  shan't.  Peter,  don't  be  a  fool. —  [try- 
ivg  to  hold  him.) — Oh  dear,  he  will  !     Murderl — help  I 

Enter  Ernestine,  r. 

Em.     What's  the  matter  now  ? 

Ger.  Oh,  Mamzelle,  help  me  to  hold  Peter.  He  wants 
to  drown  himself. 

Em.  He  is  sillier  than  ever  I  supposed  him,  if  he  would 
drown  himself  for  so  worthless  a  person.  I  wonder  you 
are  not  ashamed  to  look  me  in  the  face. 

Ger.  I'm  very  sorry,  Mamzelle.  I  know  you  only  lent 
me  a  lover;  but  how  can  I  give  you  him  back,  if  he  wont 
go? 

Em.  Cease  your  impertinence.  Your  simplicity  is  all 
affected. 

Ger.  I'm  sure,  Mamzelle,  if  the  Captain  will  only  con- 
sent, I'll  give  him  up  with  pleasure. 

Fet.     You  will  ? 

Em.  You  will  ?  Hark  ye,  Gertrude!  Don't  tliink  tliat 
I  care  the  least  about  Captain  Amersfort — his  beliaeiour 
has  entirely  destroyed  any  little  affection  I  might  have 
had  for  him;  but  only  to  vex  him  in  ray  turn,  if  you  will 
promise  not  to  marry  him — 

Pet.     Do,  do. 

Em.     I  will  settle  a  handsome  mcome  on  you. 

Pet.     There!   there! 

Em.     Tell  him  that  you  do  not  love  him. 

Pet.     Yes,  yes. 

Em.     That  you  love  another — ^anybody. 

Pet.     Yes,  me! — I'm  ready  to  be  loved. 

Ger.  {Aside.)  I  see  him! — now's  the  time.  (Aloud.) 
Well,  Mamzelle,  I  believe  it  would  be  only  the  truth — I  have 
a  *iTeat  respect  for  Captain  Amersfort,  but  I  certainly  do 
not  love  hira — and  perhaps  I  do  love  sombody  else. 

[Looking  at  Peter. 
Pet.     Oh,  Gertrude  ! 


28  Tin:  i.oax  or  a  i.ovf.r.  [Act  I. 

Enter  Amksfout,  unseen  hy  them,  l.  u.  e. 

Gcr.  But  liow  can  I  consent  to  make  biin  wretched  ? 
If  there  was  any  chance  of  your  making  it  up — if  I  thought 
you  still  loved  the  Captain,  and  you  would  make  him  happy 
in  the  avowal — 

Em.     Would  that  decide  yon  ? 

Pet.     (To  Ernestine.)     Oh,  do,  th^n— do  I 

Em.     What  would  you  have  me  say  ? 

Ger.  That  you  forgive  him,  and  are  willing  to  marry 
him,  if  I  give  him  up. 

Em.     Well,  then,  I  am  willing. 

Amer.     (  Taking  her  hand.)  And  so  am  I  I 

Ger.     And  so  am  I. 

Pel.     Hurrah  I 

Em.     Captain  Amersfort  here  ?     This  was  a  plot,  then  I 

Amer.  Own  that  it  was  to  secure  your  happiness,  Ernes- 
tine, and  you  make  mine  for  ever. 

Em.     Well,  I  believe  I  deserved  this  lesson. 

Fet.     And  I'm  sure  I  did. 

Ger.  You've  made  up  your  mind,  then,  that  I  shall  mar- 
ry you  now  ? 

Fet.     To  be  sure  I  have. 

Ger.  Well  as  you  say,  when  you  once  do  take  a  thing 
in  your  head,  nothing  can  turn  you,  I  suppose  its  useless  to 
say  "  No."     There  is  my  hand,  dear  Peter. 

A7)ier.     And  I  suppose  I  may  let  him  have  the  farm  now. 

Ger.     If  you  please.  Captain. 

A?ner.  And  give  him  the  two  thousand  crowns  that  I 
desired  Yan  Nickem  to  settle  on  you  as  a  wedding  portion. 

Fet.     Ah  I  then  that's  why  young  Sneek — but  no  matter. 

Yi:^ AIj'EI —(  Trio,  from  "  The  Challenge.") 
Peter,  Gertrude,  and  Ernestine. 

u^®     I  is  mine.     ^^^     I  is  mine.     Let  the  stars  work  their  will, 

If  our  patrons  approve,  nothing  now  can  go  ill  ; 
But  the  lover  we  lend  must  witli  them  make  his  way, 
Or  our  dealings  will  end  with  the  devil  to  pay. 

Ernestine. 

Should  they  not  then  befriend  ua  7 


Scene  I.J  the  loan  of  a  lover.  29 


She 


Gektkude. 

I  will  hope  for  the  best, 
If  one  kind  friend  will  lend  ua 
His  harids  to  move  the  rest. 
Will  you  ask  ? 

Pi:trr. 

Bay  do  you 

Gertiu'D!?: — {To  the  Audience.') 

Do  you  like  it  ? 

Peter. 

Say  do  you. 

All. 

Oh,  happy  hour  !     Oh,  joyous  night  ? 
Our  patrons  share  in  our  delight. 

I    Let  the  stars  work  their  will. 


He        !  '"  "" 

Since  our  friends  have  approved,  nothing  now  can  go  ill ; 
/riie  lover  we  lent  has  with  them  made  his  way, 
And  their  smiles  of  content  all  our  toils  overpey. 


Dispodlion  of  the  Characters  at  the  fall  of  the  Curtain. 


^.^ 


FINIS. 


R. 


THE    MINOR  DRAMA. 

VOL    I. 

37.  The  Irish  Ambassador. 

1.  The  Trisli  Attorney. 

38.  Delicate  Grmnid. 

2.  Boots  at  the  Swan. 

39.  The  Weathercock. 

3.  How  to  Pay  the  Rent. 

40.  All  that  Glittei-s  is  not  Gold. 

4.  The  Loan  of  a  Lover. 

With  a  Portrait    and    Memoir  of 

5.  The  Dead  Shot. 

MR.  W.  A.  GOODALL. 

6.  His  Last  Legs. 

7.  The  Invisible  Prince. 

VOL    VI. 

8.  The  Golden  Farmer. 

41.  Grimshaw,  Bagshaw  and  Brad- 

With  a  Portrait  and    Memoir  of 

shaw. 

ME.  JOHN  SEFTON. 

42.  Rough  Diainoiid. 

43.  Bloomer  Costume. 

VOL  II. 

9.  The  Pride  of  the  Market. 

44.  Two  Bonnycastles. 

45.  Born  to  Good  Luck. 

10.  Used  Up. 

46.  Kiss  in  the  Dark. 

11.  The  Irish  Tutor. 

47.  'Twould  Puzzle  a  Conjuror. 

12.  The  Barrack  Room. 

48.  Kill  or  Cure. 

13.  liuke  the  Laborer. 

14.  Beauty  and  the  Beast. 

15.  St.  Patrick's  Eve. 

With  a   Portrait    and  Memoir  of 
P.  M.  KENT. 

16.  Captain  of  the  Watch. 

VOL.    VII. 

With  a  Portrait  and   Memoir   of 

49.  Box  and  Cox  Married  and  Settled. 

MISS  C.  ^^^MYSS. 

50.  St.  Cupid. 

VOL   ITT. 

51.  Go-to  bed  Tom. 

17.  The  Secret. 

52.  The  Lawyers. 

18.  ^^^Jite  Horse  of  the  Peppers. 

19.  The  Jacobite. 

53.  Jack  Sheppaid. 
64    The  Toouies. 

20.  The  Bottle. 

65.  The  Mobcap. 

21.  Box  and  Cox. 

56.  Ladies  Beware. 

22.  Bamboozling. 

With  a   Portrait  and  Memoir  of 

23.  Widow's  Victim. 

MR.  J.  E.  OWENS. 

24.  Rrbert  Macaire. 

With    a  Portrait  and  Memoir   of 

MR.  F.  S.  CHANFRAU 

VOL.     IV. 

25.  Secret  Service. 

26.  Omnibus. 

27.  Irish  Lion. 

28.  Maid  of  Croissey. 

29.  The  Old  Guard. 

30.  Raising  the  Wind. 

31.  Slasher  and  Crasi    -. 

32.  Naval  Engagemen. 

With  a  Portrait    aua    Memoir  of 

MISS  ROSE  TELBIN. 

VOL    V. 

33.  Cocknies  in  California, 

34.  Who  Speaks  First. 

35.  Bombastes  F  arioso. 

36.  Macbeth  Travestie. 

Price  12  1-2   Cents  each.-^Bcywnd   Volumes,  $1.00. 

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Ten  copies  of  any  of  tie  Plays  wUl  be  sent  by  mail. 

WM.  TAYLOR  Sf  CO.,  Arvtir Street. 

/'■■ 


DdERICAN  DRAMA, 

No.   2, 

(a  SEBIBS  of   plays  by  AMERIOAK  ACTHOBi,) 

Price  25  Cents. 


THE  OATH  OF  OFFICE; 

I  -N      FIVE      A   C  .T   8, 

BY  CHARLES  JAMES  CANNON, 

AUTHOR   OF     "the    POET'S   QUEST,"     "  THE   CROWNING   HOUB,** 
"poems,    DRAMATIC    AND   MISCELLANEOUS,"   4C. 


The  scene  is  laid  in  Ireland,  about  the  Fifteenth  Century 
The  characters  that  figure  in  the  Play  are  :  James  Lynch 
FrrzsTEPHEN,  Mayor  of  Galway  ;  Walter  Lynch,  his  Son  ; 
Blake  of  the  Hills,  Brother-in-law  of  Lynch  ;  Arthur, 
Son  of  Blake  ;  Tiklogh,  Father-in-law  of  Walter  ;  Gomez, 
a  young  Spaniard;  Citizens,  Officers,  Gentlemen,  Sailors, 
&c.,  &c.  ;  Dame  ^L^rgaret,  wife  of  Lyn^  . ;  Agnes,  the 
Wife  of  Walter  ;  Ladies,  Citizens,  Wr  j;s,  &c.,  Ac. 

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